Improved washing-machine



STATES NETE 'li J. E. BRIGGS, OF VEST RANDOLPH, VERMONT.

llVlPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,04E9. dated May 29, 136@ To all whom it may concern# Beit known that I, J. E. BRIGGS, of West Randolph, in the county of Orange, in the State of Vermont, have invented a vnew and Improved Washing-Machine 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a section taken in the vertical plane running from the center ofthe standard E along the center of the handle I) and pressing-block C, and diagonally across the fluted board B and through the button F. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine as disconnected with a tub. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a common wash-tub containing a machine properly fastened into it for use.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The object of this invention relates to that class of washing-machines which wash clothes by alternate soaking and pressing or forein g water through the texture of the fabric, and is also to produce a machine capable of combined pressing and rubbing when desired, all to be accomplished with a great saving of labor and space.

The nature of my invention consists of combining with a square board of convenient size, tluted on its upper surface likeacommon washboard, a pressing and rubbing block of peculiar construction, as hereinafter described, operated by a handle provided for the purpose, of proper length to give any desired amount of power as a lever of the second class, said block being attached to the board by a common loose link-joint, all of which is fastened into any common wash-tub by standard and button, as hereinafter explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, A represents any common wash-tub, and in all the gures B a square board, iiuted on its upper surface with parallel equidistant channels and rounds, and cleated at one or both ends.

C is an irregular block for pressing or rubb in g, attached to one end ofthe board, at the distance from one corner of half the width ofthe block, by the common joint Gr, and provided with a bent handle, D, which is made to project up over the side of the tub from the end opposite to the joint. attachment to the board, the same of length sufficient to give any desired amount oi' power.- The said pressingblock O is also provided on its under surface with channels and rounds similar to those of the board, only wider, and with a space left flat on either edge of the said surface to prevent the rounds ofthe one shutting-into the channels of the other. The said block is also perforated with parallel horizontal holes a ma near its under surface, with which smaller perpendicular holes c c c communicate, the said series of holes of such size and number relative to each other and to the size of the pressin g-block that the operation of the machine is comparatively free from suction.

Gis the loose link-joint with which the board B and pressing-block O are connected. Said jointis made of round iron by flattening sufficientlength for fastening to the under surface ofthe board B. ltis then bent up at right an` gles through the edge of the boa-rd, and bent forward and down again, thereby forming a link or loop at proper height for the joint. It is then bent forward again at right angles to form the projection c' on a level with the arm a, said arm being let into the board so that their lower surfaces are even.

'lhe arm m is a simple straight piece ofthe same kind of iron, iiattened and perforated for the fastening-screws, and bent into a hook at one end for completing the joint.

The lower arm, n, is fastened diagonally across the board B, both for the purpose of i strengthening the board and of protecting the fastenings from strain when the machine is operated for rubbing.

The upper arm, m, Ais secured to the block O by the fastenings of the handle D,which pass through it, as shown in Fig. 1.

The fastening of a machine into a tub is se cured by a standard, E, with an opening in its foot, which ,is screwed tothe inside of the tub near the bottom, and as the machine is lowered into the tub the projection i from the joint Gis slid under it, thereby not 0x1] y fastening down that corner of the washer firmly, but also transferring to said standard a large portion ofthe strain which comes in the operaA tion of the machine upon that part which acts as a fulcrum. The opposite corner is kept in place by a small button, F, screwed to the tents of the tub may be included in the operaside of the tub just over the end of the cleat o, which is made to project more or less, according to the size ofthe tub.

Now, from the foregoing description it will be seen that the handle D may be operated up and down for soaking and pressing, and, the joint being loose, nearly the whole coning they may be exposed for the purpose, and for rubbing a lateral motion ot' the hanl die given, with a slight pressure downward. Raising the handle and rubbing all one Way has the effect to turn over and change the position of the clothing, thereby doing. away with the necessity of' manipulation otherwise occasionally needed. v

Having thus described my invention,what1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the grooved board B, of the perforatedl irregular pressing-block C, joint G, and hand1e`D,when the parts are constructed and applied to a tub, A, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

` J. E. BRIGGS. Witnesses:

GHAs. HEBARD, ERAs'rUs HEBARD. 

